Witch hazel: A shrub that blooms in winter

Popular witch hazel cultivars

H. x intermedia‘Arnold Promise' Its clear yellow, fragrant flowers have a reddish base; blooms from late February to March. Zone 5

‘Diane' One of the most brilliant red varieties; it blooms in February. Zone 6

‘Feuerzauber' a.k.a. ‘Fire Charm' The large coppery orange flowers of this beauty bloom in February; in fall its foliage turns to a yellow-orange. Zone 5

‘Jelena' This cultivar's petals are long at 2.5 centimetres; they're red at the base, orange in the middle and yellow at the tip. Zone 5; shown right

‘Pallida' A sweetly fragrant variety with pale yellow flowers that bloom in late February. Zone 5

‘Ruby Glow' Its coppery red flowers mature to reddish brown in February and March. The summer leaf colour is medium green, turning to a combination of orange and red in the fall. Zone 4

‘Sunburst' The lemon yellow flowers appear in late January. Zone 5

H. japonica ‘Zuccariniana' Its orange-yellow foliage gives way to pale yellow flowers in February and March. Zone 5

H. mollis ‘Goldcrest' The large flowers of this cultivar are yellow with red at the base and bloom from February to March. Zone 5H. vernalis ‘Lombart's Weeping' The spreading, pendent branches of this shrub have abundant orange-red flowers in mid-winter and brilliant yellow foliage in fall. Zone 4

‘Sandra' Its purple leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red in fall with cadmium yellow-coloured flowers in late winter. Zone 4.